Chords and cadences
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can identify different chord types by ear and through notation, and can identify different cadences.
Key learning points
- Major triads, minor triads and extended chords can be identified by listening carefully to the feeling of each chord.
- The tonic chord (I) can be identified by the ‘finished’ feeling that it creates.
- The dominant (V) and subdominant (IV) chords can be identified by listening for the bass notes.
- We can identify cadences by the feeling they create - perfect and plagal feel finished, imperfect and interrupted don’t.
- Listening for the bass notes helps to distinguish between perfect (V-I) and plagal (IV-I) cadences.
Keywords
Tonic - chord I in a key
Dominant - chord V in a key
Subdominant - chord IV in a key
Perfect cadence - a V-I progression at the end of a section of music; it feels resolved
Imperfect cadence - when a section ends on chord V, feeling unfinished
Common misconception
Chord IV and V sound the same, so plagal and perfect cadences sound the same.
They sound similar, but not identical. Picking out the bass note is the key - if you can hear that note, you can work out how it relates to the tonic, so can work out which chord (and cadence) you are listening to.
Teacher tip
Pupils often find distinguishing between chords and cadences challenging. Additional practice of picking out and singing bass notes, and identifying intervals is invaluable. Drill students on the 'feeling' of imperfect and interrupted cadences to help them develop instinctive recognition of those.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1. music uses only notes from within the key.
Q2. music is music that uses some notes from outside the key.
Q3. music is based on modes, a type of scale.
Q4.What is a microtone?
Q5.What is tonality?
Q6.What is atonal music?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which chord is the tonic?
Q2.Which chord is the dominant?
Q3.Which chord is the subdominant?
Q4.Which two cadences feel ‘finished’?
Q5. cadences end on chord V.
Q6. cadences feel unexpected.
To help you plan your 11 music lesson on: Chords and cadences, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 music lesson on: Chords and cadences, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 music lessons from the Understanding melody and harmony unit, dive into the full secondary music curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.